This edition of Grape Encounters is brought to you by Total Wine & More.  Find what you love and love what you find at Total Wine & More. Just over a month ago, a captivating debate bubbled up among the wine lovers of California's Central Coast and quickly spilled over into the digital vineyards of social media, engaging a broad audience in a conversation that was anything but pedestrian. Grape Encounters Radio was thoroughly delighted to fire the starting pistol as the discussion...

This week, in the whimsical world of "Grape Encounters Radio," where the love of wine and food dances freely with the spirit of adventure, your host, David Wilson, takes a moment to don his chef's hat—figuratively speaking—and delve into a topic that's been simmering on the back burner of America's culinary consciousness. Yes, dear food fanatics, we're talking about the great kitchen exodus, the flight from flavor, the very unraveling of the apron strings that once tied us to the heart of the...

This week, in the whimsical world of "Grape Encounters Radio," where the love of wine and food dances freely with the spirit of adventure, your host, David Wilson, takes a moment to don his chef's hat—figuratively speaking—and delve into a topic that's been simmering on the back burner of America's culinary consciousness. Yes, dear food fanatics, we're talking about the great kitchen exodus, the flight from flavor, the very unraveling of the apron strings that once tied us to the heart of the...

For more than 50 years, American wine enthusiasts and everyday drinkers have been divided into two opposing camps: those who use tech talk and wine industry jargon to describe what's in their glass vs those who prefer to describe their wine as "delicious."  A few days ago, a very daring boutique winemaker in the Santa Ynez Valley, California, decided that he was going to pose this question to his social media friends and followers. His name is Larry Schaeffer, and he is the owner and...

Gather ‘round wine enthusiasts, adventurous gastronomes, and curious wanderers for this week's edition of Grape Encounters Radio. For 15 years, we've been your trusted companion on a never-ending journey off the beaten path into uncharted regions of the world of wine. As America’s leading nationally syndicated wine radio broadcast and podcast, our specialty of the house is serving up a truly unique blend of stories, insights, and adventures, all revolving around one unifying element -...

Is it conceivable that a seemingly innocuous wine tasting event could significantly alter the trajectory of America's future? While this proposition might initially appear far-fetched, the latest episode of Grape Encounters Radio presents compelling arguments that are likely to change your perspective. Wine aficionados are no strangers to wine tastings, but a recent event in Napa Valley has unexpectedly garnered significant attention due to its potential implications for the Georgia...

It’s hard to imagine any European city with more iconic food, wine, art, and cultural attractions per capita than Bologna, Italy.  Home of the world’s first university, Bologna is a place of higher learning in almost any discipline you can imagine.  Behind every door and around every corner, the old world is displayed in vibrant living colors.  Present-day Bologna is as important culturally as it was hundreds of years ago.  It is an incubator of fine art, architecture, culinary innovation,...

Well, it been one heck of a month here at Grape Encounters Radio, where we came, we saw and we were conquered... by the magic of Garnacha, during our very special 4-part series devoted entirely to what is arguably the world's most beloved wine varietal.  We say "most beloved" with some reservations, mostly because Garnacha is enjoyed under a number of different names and in some of the most delicious blends to every coat the tongue with pure ecstasy!  Anyway, we've had the privilege to...

Welcome to the second week of an exhilarating journey through the captivating world of Garnacha wines in Northern Spain! This multi-week exploration has been meticulously crafted to delve deep into the heart of Garnacha, a wine varietal that remains unjustly overlooked despite consistently ranking among the world's top wine producers. How can something so prolific remain shrouded in mystery and underappreciated, you may wonder? The answer lies in Garnacha, or Grenache, as it is more globally...

For the next 30 days, we’ve got Spain on the brain as we bring you the most comprehensive look at the regions and varietals responsible for some of the most beloved wines in the world today and for many centuries in the past.  At the invitation of the Asociación Garnacha Spain, we took our microphones and unrelenting curiosity to the northeastern part of the country where Garnacha wines were not only born in a remote Priorat monastery but continue to thrive.  It often comes as quite a...

Featuring Special Guest Carolina de Funes, Manager of Asociación Garnacha Spain We’re taking you to Spain’s Garnacha Land for three amazing weeks, AND we’ll also share how to get worldwide flights and accommodations for under $25!  THIS IS NOT A TYPO!  From insanely cheap off-season worldwide travel with airfares that are almost free and phenomenal equally inexpensive accommodations to a preview of our upcoming mega-series in Spain's Garnacha Land, this week's episode of Grape Encounters...

In this episode of Grape Encounters, we invite you to step into a world where wine enthusiasts embark on a quest to elevate their wine experience… where big, bold reds that once fell short are transformed into vibrant, unforgettable delights. It's a story of courage and alchemy, where a mere teaspoon of our friend Jutta Turners's remarkable port-style wine became the catalyst for an explosion of flavor. In this episode, we'll unveil the secrets to why wine drinkers should never fear tinkering...

At a recent family gathering, Grape Encounters host David Wilson realized that he couldn’t keep it inside any longer. He had a secret that he hadn’t shared with either of his older brothers. As a child, he used to borrow, without permission, their record albums, sometimes at the risk of torture or worse. With a shared love of classic rock, David wondered how they would react to his confession. He broke the news to the eldest brother, Bob, first.  “Bob, there’s something that I want to...

Winemaking legend Mike Grgich not only catapulted California Wine from the shadows to the spotlight literally overnight, but he also mentored and inspired more generations of rising star winemakers than anyone else. It’s certainly a reasonable assumption, given that Mike remained engaged in his craft for the lion’s share of a century. It’s a living legacy without peer. And though we will no longer be able to delight in his physical presence, he will undoubtedly continue to inspire winemakers...

Did you know that less than 1% of wines make it to US retailers' shelves?  On this weeks edition of Grape Encounters you'll meet a wine importer, distributor and retailer who is determined to give hard-to-get imports an opportunity to show their stuff in the extraordinarily competitive American market. Vero, which means real in Italian, is all about opening up the category of small production, sustainably made, authentic wines, olive oils and foods from around the world. We curate them...

If you're a wine enthusiast, chances are you're also an olive oil enthusiast—you just might not know it yet! In this week's episode of Grape Encounters Wine Radio, we're diving headfirst into the world of olive oil and its inseparable bond with wine. The more you integrate olive oil into your wine experience, the richer and more delightful your journey becomes. Join us as we explore the harmonious marriage of these two extraordinary liquids and prepare to elevate your wine adventures to new...

Welcome to Grape Encounters Radio, where host David Wilson is serving up a delightful Thanksgiving feast of stories, wine adventures, and holiday tips in Episode 749. This year's Thanksgiving holds special significance as David joyfully anticipates reuniting with his family after four years away. David takes us on a nostalgic journey to the last two Thanksgiving celebrations spent in Italy, where he introduced his Italian friends and adopted family to the quintessential American tradition...

On this NO BS episode of Grape Encounters Radio, host David Wilson really turns up the heat on wine writers and reviewers, urging wine enthusiasts to hold them accountable. Witty, edgy, and engaging, David encourages listeners to think seriously about the motives behind the wine reviews they read (and listen to) and to be sure they are genuinely comfortable with the qualifications of the person dishing out advice.  David also challenges writers to be accountable for their recommendations. ...

In this special episode of Grape Encounters Radio, we've got a treat for you as we welcome one of the most beloved guests ever to grace the Grape Encounters microphones—Former Bad Company bassist Paul Cullen. This week, Paul is here to share his journey from the stage to the vineyard, offering a unique perspective on the intersection of rock and the world of wine. But before we dive into the fusion of music and wine, let’s share a little bit about Grape Encounters Radio with first-timers....

This week, Grape Encounters presents a “Down-Understanding of Australian Wines” like never before! Now, in our 15th year in the world of broadcasting, we continue to bring you stories, people, and adventures that revolve around one common theme – wine. But today, we're setting our sights on a world of wine that doesn’t get nearly the attention it richly deserves. Today, we’re taking a deep dive into Australian wine.  Figuratively, that is.  And we have a true superstar to guide...

Well, they say with artificial intelligence, you have to take the good with the bad, or is it the bad with the good? Well, whichever way it is, the guest who was supposed to be featured on this show headed for the hills when he heard a little bit about some of the latest AI innovations that are finding their way into journalism, photography, and even wine. Who would have thought that a 10-minute pre-interview prep talk would freak a guest out like it did? But the story about the story is...

It’s back!  We don't run many repeats, but when we do, they have to be mighty special... and this hour-long kitchen table conversation with #1 best-selling author Natalie MacLean--arguably America's finest wine and food author--is just a click away. Natalie’s new release, Wine Witch on Fire: Rising from the Ashes of Divorce, Defamation, and Drinking Too Much, is our most downloaded episode of Grape Encounters this year. HOST DAVID WILSON SAYS: For many years, I have been telling you that...

In this episode of Grape Encounters, we invite you to step into a world where wine enthusiasts embark on a quest to elevate their wine experience… where big, bold reds that once fell short are transformed into vibrant, unforgettable delights. It's a story of courage and alchemy, where a mere teaspoon of our friend Jutta Turners's remarkable port-style wine became the catalyst for an explosion of flavor. In this episode, we'll unveil the secrets to why wine drinkers should never fear tinkering...

If you're a wine enthusiast, chances are you're also an olive oil enthusiast—you just might not know it yet! In this week's episode of Grape Encounters Wine Radio, we're diving headfirst into the world of olive oil and its inseparable bond with wine. The more you integrate olive oil into your wine experience, the richer and more delightful your journey becomes. Join us as we explore the harmonious marriage of these two extraordinary liquids and prepare to elevate your wine adventures to new...

While we’ve been busily worrying about the impact of global warming on the wine industry, it turns out that it is currently the least of the industry’s problems.  Despite catastrophic fires in California, Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, Greece, Spain, France, Portugal, Sicily, the list goes on and on… You would think that fires of such immense magnitude, taking their toll around the globe, would mean a shortage of wine or at least significantly higher prices. Shockingly, these...